A’s beat Giants 5-0 in opener of Bay Bridge Series

Jesse Chavez continued an impressive run of A’s starting pitching with six scoreless innings, and Alberto Callaspo contributed a two-run double Monday night as Oakland beat the Giants 5-0 in the opener of the Bay Bridge Series.

In front of an announced sellout crowd at O.co Coliseum, Chavez matched his career high by striking out nine and did not allow a runner past second base. In five games on this homestand, A’s starting pitchers have combined to throw 33 innings, allowing three runs and 19 hits and striking out 33.

Ryan Vogelsong matched zeros with Chavez until the fifth, when Craig Gentry was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on John Jaso‘s groundout. Vogelsong then plunked Josh Donaldson with an inside fastball to start the sixth and was relieved by Juan Gutierrez after allowing a one-out single to Jed Lowrie. Callaspo lined Gutierrez’s first pitch into the gap in right-center for a double that scored both runners.

The A’s beat the Giants for the 10th time in their last 12 games in Oakland and improved their interleague record this year to 8-1, best in the majors.

Hammel, a right-hander who was 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 17 starts for the Cubs, said he was “shocked” going from last-place Chicago to the first-place A’s. He also said he thinks the trade “shows the (A’s fans) that we’re looking to take this thing.”

Hammel is looking forward to having his home games at the pitcher-friendly Coliseum.

“I’ve had Coors Field, I’ve had Camden Yards, Wrigley (Field) – all launching pads,” he said. “So I welcome the challenge of pitching in an actual fair ballpark.”

• Josh Reddick (hyperextended left knee) went through full pregame activities, including outfield drills and running for the first time since his injury. Left-hander Drew Pomeranz (fractured right hand) has been cleared to start catching a ball with his glove hand.

• Marco Scutaro played second base Monday night for Triple-A Fresno and has told the Giants he’s ready to return, Bochy said, though that’s likely not imminent.